EAT

Recette is the kind of restaurant where meticulous prep is set to an iPod's rap and rock soundtrack. Décor is spare without being Spartan—simple wooden tables and a few sconces are 2011 New York Rising Star Chef Jesse Schenker’s concession to ambiance in an unapologetically food-focused space. Buffalo sweetbreads might seem tongue-in-cheek, but Schenker is dead serious about his cuisine, which is elementally sophisticated with strong, well-sculpted flavors and textures, and a few luxurious turns (as in a lobster orzo with hunks of meaty lobster, spicy chorizo and a sinfully generous supply of summer truffles). Pastry Chef Christina Lee follows up with sophisticated flavor play of her own, and we’re eager to see where she takes it from here.